This…isn’t my ceiling. I blink and feel a tinge of pain across my pain. So…this is reality. I’m probably in the nurse’s office.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpfEMdax54
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqUGg6SBNT
I swallow and exhale a long breath. Everything that has happened flashes through my head.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2csxMF0L1
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRBwHhrh2Y
Nao: “What happens now?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuM1c7cGiB
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOpH5O0w99
Alyson: “So you’re awake.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMkR6ULwwa
!478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3uqMvRP6S
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDElN1YZQdg
I struggle through the pain and look to my right to see Alyson by my bed.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsikqv4HmEg
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N7xzVCYZV
Nao: “What are you doing here.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zSwybkDOO
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhcBXwyMKj
Alyson: “Is that a problem?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMWCf14TCq
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdItOrlaQI
Nao: “No, I’m just surprised.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsPfw3IdpU
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfgd0aVj2B
Alyson: “…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtvVNP22KP
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkTM8YW2Vk
Nao: “…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80ijx117z6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHjuOVetCm
Alyson: “So, explain yourself.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xHyVKP6a9
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZyUlqdP8q
Nao: “Is it not obvious, Trevor beat me up.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyUyVAXLQS
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzKWFzHW4K
Alyson: “…I mean before all of that.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt11J99cih
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnHUCigIZJ
Nao: “I did the right thing, any humane person would do it.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKaxq3yPos
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eA7s8ktxu
Alyson: “Those eyes didn’t look human to me.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfggm49LJ2b
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMMP2hibUb
Nao: “…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHwsLeNrdG
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw4yen1bOw
Nao: “Maybe not, but I couldn’t sit by and let them beat up my friends like that. If I…have to become a monster-”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BgEYw7RDU
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpXtqqXF06
Alyson: “Don’t finish that. You don’t have to do that.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUbGbXP30M
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeJbwaVQJn
I begin to retort but something is happening. Alyson’s general seriousness begins to crumble before my eyes.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9v7GgN1Wb
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEqlXuznkc
Nao: “What’s with you?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQltORpbKu
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0YrF1V65G
Alyson: “That’s my question!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyJJpzqw1a
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouJ5jm4xN9
Nao: “!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtvXMnyfdA
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GtqMYtiFu
Alyson: “Don’t you realize that if you keep doing this you’ll get yourself killed! Stop trying to do things beyond your ability!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoEKuRsTE8
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3VpvqZk8j
Nao: “…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXQ8RvA8EK
Alyson: “I…don’t want to lose you too.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswS8yCjyQB
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Dk7LtVJj
Tch.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTyrI04Lo2
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTYcIshiM8
Nao: “What do you want from me!?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ8u5ZAp4L
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19pMUOfLGl
Alyson: “!!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNIYInXuJu
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylE8Gq6kOr
Nao: “Should we just shut up and take our abuse? I don’t care whether it’s not within my ability, I rather try than live the rest of my life on my knees.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo6vK26frw
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjEelG9Koi
Alyson: “…Nell and I won’t watch you burn up in the sun. Goodbye, Nao.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQD6JPzzNH
She cleans off her tears and leaves me alone in the room. No, not alone. I’m in a room full of broken bodies. Those of my friends and those of my enemies.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFMvqFV7Se
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOzTFWfgxC
Nao: “It’s too late to back out now.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXLvY6m1Ec
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVnPF9qzR2
*Sigh*
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtZCMRVscq
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Ru78vfws
Nao: “ So this is the cost of being the main character. I’ll know when this ends if the price was worth it.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaaeEHQYQw
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRCF8W0Rpi
Arc?478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXjKLlzwyP
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4R66IFHCj
Arc: “Yes?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD4qjdKhOd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsyyBEiB5X
How’s my body?
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZnscunoQi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vNRLSL5yX
Arc: “Healing well enough. Speaking of healing…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneGgPpecqh
*Ding*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA9a2V5GBy
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmlu0NnbzQ
Points: 6478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWWSbkSAQD
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVBHaSmX4X
Arc: “You did well over 10 spells today.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPd4740ydOR
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFju3eCBWR
Good, I need those points if I’m going to beat the King next time.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYSMPrwkqa
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r1Bk0dxf1
*Door open*
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBlvVYkkQN
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqZ2K6LciR
I look to the door and rushing to my side is the person I didn’t want to see. Not after what I almost did?
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOarvVxGYeI
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKPgMPp23k
Nell: “Nao, are you okay!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT4oSE1gAb
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn1pVdiIi1
Nao: “I’m okay, mom. Sorry they had to call you from work.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡueBfPUvctn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrHGF3h3iD
She hugs me gently, enveloping me in her warmth. Something I need but don’t deserve. And as soon as I think that the warmth leaves and is replaced with dread.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF5PZ8ed3Z
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x8zhChB4v
Nell: “You promised…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqhqcGSHvM
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kPyunDGPY
Nao: “Mom I-”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡES6FSyP6LX
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnpIOgAb1n
Before I could say anything she flicked my forehead hard enough to push my head back some. Knowing my mom, this is as bad as a slap.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHxVKULC3w
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutsVfReqeI
Nell: “You broke your promise and got into fights. Even Alyson seems shaken by what she saw you do.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEKWWZd6WW
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v4JtPfLUM
Nao: “But-”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2DOTevLRR
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR1VsPEcVL
Nell: “Nao, you’ve been suspended from school for a month.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Aou1H3kx4
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98YXj3EHSj
Nao: “!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDV9sSs0uc
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRO2zGnY9K
Nao: “What about those bullies?! Don’t tell me they get to go free!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw5U72zaAC
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHjAdNb1tF
Nell: “Nao, you beat one of them so bad that they might not make it.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9CMlhVIcB
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5hBj8kdhh
Nao: “!!”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5UaFUHXSc
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGqxeMpSNI
Nell: “What they did to you and your friends is unforgivable but that pales in comparison to you. You…might really be charged with murder.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Aabu7bAn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9Z4QuTteU
Nell: “Why didn’t you tell me…we could have done something….anything but this...”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl54KczMvd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLgAVG5HXk
I couldn’t say anything…she’s right. I already killed 3 people and now this….
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNaT2C0Lke
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWMDqkzV0y
What am I becoming?
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFUzBXAQJQ
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI9FJlV27E
Arc: “What’s necessary.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROajezRs4b
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡew3mMVAdxU
W-What?
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6rWAwvFiH
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLgQ8a7lqK
Nell: “Nao, despite everything you’ve done I forgive you for breaking that promise.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3lndjYyKJ
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPxwUyKqc6
Nao: “R-Really?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7Mspb2j2L
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByZ0pp4uKM
Nell: “Yes, because I also kept something from you. Our…living situation is not the best.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLh3OmYbdm
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl6neKlafE
Nao: “What do you mean?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5VUzMx0PP
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIBoTGAtFt
Nell: “It means that I’m getting older and can’t be as productive as I once was. Income has been steadily declining along with work hours. I…can’t keep up and one day…we might lose the house.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcbjrEmB1Q
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OPz5z44sc
Nao: “Mom! Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped or lessened your burden in some way. I would never have been as lazy as I was before if I knew.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hEqRfpcTO
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj3dnbh3Hh
Nell: “I didn’t want to further burden you. I assume that’s the same reason why you didn’t tell me.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUpQDrFLmt
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNUnLQN7i9
Nao: “*Nod*”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ng6yRYvB9
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrkIu0mWgh
Nell: “We both made mistakes Nao. If we were more truthfully with each other then maybe we could have avoided this.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Zl9Vadmj
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8nqUjyOQy
Mom bows her head and I try desperately to stop her but she insisted.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDc7ZT4gnt
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoPsIxu67G
Nell: “I’m sorry for keeping this from you.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wYVA6myzR
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDl7rBFaLu
Nao: “Mom I…”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYFzoKxh5X
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvggbpd7tK
I bow myself. As best I can in my situation.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87xWjgUxux
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQhxfSiism
Nao: “I’m sorry too, for everything I’ve done and kept secret.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWf9XfCHVK
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EPu3yqlCc
We both bought our heads back and accepted the other’s apology.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQz3mjF6uM
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaxtpAe7c9
Nell: “No matter what happens, we’ll be truthful and rely on each other more from now on. Promise me.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3f3FBsjAe
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HbOeiPFCc
Nao: “I-”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx7J5QRRLd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj9oseCnlC
Nell: “Promise me.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2OrposbdN
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGuA00SZiQ
Nao: “…Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCyRG45CYo
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWTriDDZpF
Arc: “What are you doing?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YAK4f40ea
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11qhv7kYdi
You said we need more allies and the one person who’s been an ally to me all my life is right here. I never should have kept this a secret.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFRCWmN9Pi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIi8aFPUNz
Arc: “I don’t thin-”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Dvgz0T6V
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2aBdqr7HK
Nao: “Mom, I have something to show you. Can you draw the curtain?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Fp3kfsET
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36NsKo5tH6
Nell: “O-Okay.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xLxTuSYn5
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BCfGCSVym
*Curtains close*
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wvDw8ZeAK
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYnv0lUsrH
Once she sat down I transformed the necklace into a book with a flash of light. I used minor illusion to be on the same show I did in front of the Black Listers.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKvgjutVjc
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJw1XcRqrZ
Nao: “Mom, I’m a mage.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU50Ii8yybn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SITkx6BTq
I told her everything and this time I mean everything. I watched her eyes start with wonder and end with horror. The one thing I wanted to keep through all have this, is torn away right in front of me. And it’s done by my own hands.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJYXh67j21
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUADtUgusRH
Nell: “I…need some time.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE9CqbYygm
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRLKs442Pp
Mom leaves through the curtain and leaves me truly alone.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFyFAqnAc6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKb4q5fOst
Arc: “I tried to warn you. Now with your damaged mental state, you’ll be weaker going forward.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBVg4BDwBd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA0PJPPsnL
I tuned Arc out and sunk deeper into my bed. The harsh light bare down on me, burning away any comfort left.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WdGIwRE7l
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCbMtnNWDj
Time moved fast after that. After I was healed enough I was taken back home by mom. I assume the others went home in a similar way. When I got back home, it was colder. No one said a word as they went into their room.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBZ5rb8J2h
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n75eq76Bp
In my own room, I just laid in bed staring at my ceiling. I was too bruised, tired, and depressed to work. Despite Arc’s protests, I refused to meditate or work out.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDRlayXuQj
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoMg2CCxOk
I just wanted to sleep it all away.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCXDIuyPKV
*Ring*478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpdQULuSde
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hl2AvRIM2
I turn my head to my phone on the desk. I consider ignoring it but I remember that there’s only 1 person that would call me.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoX53ePRJi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pWvE9yMKn
I sigh and transform my head into Alphon.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk7RNsVols
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA4a1rDHjk
Alyson: “Hey Alphon, I know this is sudden but would you like to come over?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD6CNJtx79
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWnAaBhBAe
…Are you serious?
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWqkTZj2Gn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQihdHpOyVn
Nao: “S-Sure, what’s wrong?”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2d2OpLEJS
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk8hdmEb3v
Alyson: “I just…need some company. A lot happened today.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXmF3Jrogq
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicKKvxU3t1
I can understand that, I suppose this can take my mind off of everything.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zYBq2fnIm
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡET06eMaequ
Nao: “Happy to help
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4oVsAplSi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd7wGSjk18
Alyson: “Thanks, I’ll send over my address. Knock and I’ll come get you.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE3VA3cC07
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOJfVmVRHl
Nao: “Cool, I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByDFaNa6k0
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQd9VUASUx
Alyson: “Thanks…it’s nice to know your voice.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPl3gkxZ4h
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQCOfZeK76
Nao: “…Same.”
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfbkYTnYZV
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmyMI5tbui
I hang up and prepare myself for Alyson. Transforming, clothes, washing up, healing wounds, and mental prep.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xx8JCN3Mr
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQih9zDyyR
20 minutes from now, we’ll use each other to forget our problems. I have no problem with that.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQrePyVuVR
